Chapter 192: Wang Chunhua Starts Work

Chapter 192: Wang Chunhua Starts Work

As October arrived, the weather gradually turned cooler.

Su Zhaozhao walked through the campus of Sea City University, carrying a net bag. The leaves crunched under her shoes as she walked.

One advantage of attending the correspondence course was that the schedule was staggered with the full-time students, so there was no need to queue for the cafeteria or the restroom.

Of course, there was also a downside. For instance, Su Zhaozhao didn’t even know that Teacher Bai had been under investigation recently, despite being at Sea City University.

“Teacher Bai.”

The figure sweeping the fallen leaves paused, then turned around. “Oh, it’s you, Su. How are you doing with the correspondence course?”

Even though Teacher Bai had gone from being a teacher to a street sweeper, he didn’t appear particularly downcast.

He still wore his neat Mao suit, glasses, and meticulously combed hair.

Seeing that he didn’t look like he had suffered, Su Zhaozhao felt a little better. “Teacher Bai, are you…”

She wanted to ask, “Are you okay?” But she figured it was a pointless question.

“I’m fine, don’t worry,” Teacher Bai said with a smile.

Su Zhaozhao offered him a can of biscuits she had been carrying. “This is just a small token of my appreciation, Teacher Bai.”

Teacher Bai gently declined. “I know you’re worried that I might be facing financial difficulties. There’s no need to worry about that. The organization hasn’t stopped my salary, they’ve just temporarily suspended my teaching duties.”

Su Zhaozhao wasn’t the first person to bring gifts to him since the investigation began.

“Take it back. Don’t come see me anymore. If we bump into each other on campus, just act like you don’t know me and focus on your classes.”

Instead of taking the items back, Su Zhaozhao placed them on the flower stand.

After she left, Teacher Bai sighed and took the things back to his dormitory.

He was still living in the house that had been allocated to him. His home was empty; his wife had taken their child and gone back to her parents’ home because they disagreed.

Later, when he was under investigation and his work was suspended, his wife came back to argue with him again before leaving.

He didn’t blame his wife. She just didn’t want their child to be affected by his situation. Because of the ongoing political movements, she was always worried that their identities might one day cause problems for them.

If she really didn’t want this family, she would have divorced him already instead of returning to argue. He believed everything was only temporary...

…

By the end of December, two major factories in the industrial zone started operating.

Almost all the military families who hadn’t had jobs before had signed up with the logistics department. Wang Chunhua was assigned to the machinery factory.

Soon after, the military and the factories made a request to the municipal government, which led to the addition of several bus routes passing through Sea City, the industrial zone, and the military bases.

Su Zhaozhao also benefited from this, as she no longer had to rely on a bicycle to get to classes in the city.

Though they could borrow the military’s jeep, it wasn’t something you could do often. Frequent borrowing would be seen as misuse of a government vehicle, even if you covered the fuel costs.

Gu Heng only privately borrowed the vehicle to send Su Zhaozhao for the new semester. Other times, it was only used for official business.

After the military families were all assigned jobs in the factories, Xiao Tang and the others became even more relaxed. The busiest place was the daycare center, where families with children too young for school sent their kids.

This led to frequent complaints from the daycare teachers, as their workload significantly increased.

Wang Chunhua has been absolutely glowing since she started working.

The mechanical factory established a Women's Federation union, and as the wife of the regiment commissar, she was assigned to work there.

Even though she couldn’t read a single word, it didn’t stop her from becoming a trusted elder sister and friend to the women, advocating for the welfare of the female workers in the factory.

“...I know I got this job because of my old man’s influence,” Wang Chunhua came over to chat with Su Zhaozhao after her shift.

The factory didn’t dare casually assign the wife of the regiment commissar to just any role. Even having her clean the office and serve tea was seen as disrespectful to the regiment commissar. After much thought, they found her a position in the union.

Not being able to read wasn’t an issue. She could still chat with the female comrades and handle family disputes, right?

“...That guy is really something else! His wife has to work and take care of everything at home. She waits on him hand and foot, and he still beats her because his mother doesn’t like her. The wife is also foolish; even when she was beaten black and blue, she didn’t say a word. It wasn’t until her group leader couldn’t stand it anymore and reported it to the leadership that the factory management asked our Women's Federation to handle it.”

Su Zhaozhao listened with great interest, “What happened next?”

“When we went there, he had the nerve to accuse us of meddling in his family’s business. I gave him a good scolding!”

Wang Chunhua had the air of a Women's Federation clerk, “As Chairman Mao said, women hold up half the sky! When men and women are equal, how dare he still treat his wife like that, sticking to feudal ideas? His kind of thinking deserves to be overthrown! If he dares to beat his wife again, we will recommend to the factory leadership to fire him! Send him back to the countryside to farm!”

Su Zhaozhao clapped, “Sister-in-law, you're amazing!”

Wang Chunhua lifted her chin with pride, then sighed, “The saddest part is that woman. She’s not strong at all. When we said we would fire her husband, she even begged for him. She’s afraid that if her husband gets fired, she’ll suffer. If she continues like this, who knows how much he’ll secretly beat her where we can’t see.”

Su Zhaozhao said, "That's why we need your Women's Federation. Your existence isn't just about handling family conflicts. It's about educating and guiding our sisters to recognize their own importance as female compatriots and learn to protect themselves, so we can truly change this situation."

Wang Chunhua clapped her hands, "Exactly, that's what our director says too. You educated folks talk so differently."

Wang Chunhua thought for a moment, "I still need to learn how to read. I should learn from you all."

Su Zhaozhao smiled, "Okay, just memorize two characters a day, and you'll know many in no time at all."

"I need to head home now and ask that naughty kid to teach me a couple of characters."

Wang Chunhua hurried home.

When Political Commissar Zhou returned, seeing that no food had been cooked and the house was cold, he put his hands on his hips and shouted, "Where is everyone? Why hasn't the food been cooked yet?"

Wang Chunhua walked out of the inner room, holding a pen, "Can't you see I'm busy right now?"

Political Commissar Zhou, "Busy with what exactly?"

He didn’t see anything.

Wang Chunhua, "I'm writing."

"Why are you writing?"

"What do you think? Obviously, I’m learning to read!"

Political Commissar Zhou looked at the sun setting in the west, "...Go make something quick, I’m starving!"

He unbuttoned his shirt and slumped into the chair like a big shot.

Wang Chunhua rolled her eyes, "If you’re hungry, cook it yourself. I work too, so why should I have to do all the cooking? Ever heard of gender equality? Hurry up, I’ve got studying to do."

Political Commissar Zhou: "..."

Has she gone crazy with work?